Managing Director Fayaz King was quoted by Biztech as saying that “regulation needs to encourage product development and services and allow a lot more spectrum for operators to have freedom to self-regulate.”
He argued that “the predictability in the long-term nature of policies and regulation need to be taken into account.
Qhen service providers are not life-threatening to consumers, then regulation should be broad.”
The statement from Airtel Zambia comes as the country aims to increase rural mobile penetration and infrastructure development, but fears in the country are growing that without more regulation, competition will wane, which could see prices rise for customers.
King said that “setting a solid foundation was a key that enabled a business to prosper,” adding that competition “is an important aspect that can lead to employment opportunities if well tackled.”
King said, “foreign investors should not just come and bring their businesses here, but they should also realize that a business should be very competitive if it has to foster development and income in the country.”
The Airtel Managing Director argued the ICT sector “is one sector that is very competitive, adding that competition has enabled mobile service providers to grow to nearly every corners of the country.”
Despite their push, the Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), the country’s telecom regulator, argued that the sector is “fair” and there are no worries of a reduction in competition.